Historic Preservation Grant Program

Applicant Eligibility 

Organizations must be a non-profit located in Linn County and must show proof of non-profit status, such as an IRS opinion letter establishing tax-exempt status or official articles of incorporation. If an organization is a chapter of a national group, applicants must provide documentation that their Linn County chapter is recognized by the parent chapter. Due to legal restrictions, Iowa Code Section 331.901(5), organizations under ecclesiastical or sectarian management are not eligible for Linn County grant funds.

Requirements for applicants:

• Follow the Grant Application Instructions
• Must be in compliance with all reporting requirements for any previously approved Linn County historic preservation grant.
• May not be a current Linn County Historic Preservation Commissioners nor may a current Commissioner present a grant application project on an applicant’s behalf

Completed grant applications must be:

• Submitted though the online portal (no paper copies accepted)
• Consistent with the application guidelines
• Received by Linn County by the submission deadline of March 31, 2023

Project Eligibility

Projects must be aligned to one of the following categories:

Artifact / Collection Preservation

• Collecting and preserving historical artifacts, materials, places, cemeteries, or monuments 
• Maintaining a historical library or collection
• Conducting historical studies or research; including National Register of Historic Places nominations

Building / Structure Treatment, Preservation or Restoration

• Structure work for properties on or eligible for the National Register will be given priority. Applications that involve structure work are required to submit a Property Condition Worksheet and photos (see Grant Application Instructions)
• Grant funds may not be used for the purchase of physical structures, e.g., buildings.

Interpretive Program

• Issuing educational publications (not membership newsletters)
• Providing public lectures of historical interest
• Hosting conferences/meetings, trainings, or awareness events (e.g., genealogy research days, community digitization days, etc.)
• Or otherwise disseminating a knowledge of the history of the area to the general public.

Applicants may not receive funding for the same project from this grant program and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust grant program.

Applicants cannot apply for more than one project per application. A separate application is needed for each project. If more than one request is in a single proposal, the entire application will be deemed ineligible. 

Requests must be for expenses not yet incurred and expenses that will not be incurred prior to the notification of funding (typically July 1). 

The Linn County Historic Preservation Commission will host an in-person grant briefing on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 at 4 p.m. and a virtual grant briefing on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 10 a.m. for applicants interested in submitting a FY24 Historic Preservation Grant application. Attendance is not required; however, it is highly encouraged. There is no charge for the briefing and both the in-person and virtual briefings will have the same content.  If you plan to attend, please contact Stephanie Lientz at 319-892-5138 or by email for information on how to join the meeting. 

• All grant applicants will be given the opportunity to make an optional 10-minute presentation to the Linn County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) on April 20, 2022. A presentation is not required, and the absence of a presentation will not reflect negatively on an applicant; however, a presentation is highly recommended as there are often questions from the HPC. Grant applications should stand alone and address all questions asked in the application. Do not omit information from an application in anticipation of making a presentation. There is a box to check at the end of application for applicants interested in making a presentation to the HPC.
• The Linn County Historic Preservation Commission will review the FY24 grant applications during its May 3, 2023 meeting. Each project will be evaluated carefully on its merits and application. 
• The HPC’s funding recommendations will be sent to the Linn County Board of Supervisors for review and final approval. Grant applicants will be notified of the Commission’s recommendations; however, the Board of Supervisors has final approval authority, so projects must not begin prior to getting a final notice to proceed.
• Any change to the project after grant funds have been appropriated is strongly discouraged, may affect future requests, and must be requested and approved in writing. 
• In the event a project is funded and the applicant is unable to complete the project as defined in the application, grant monies must be returned to Linn County. 
• All unexpended funds received pursuant to this grant shall be returned to Linn County at the conclusion of grant-funded projects.
• Projects are to be complete with a final report by March 15, 2024. Reasonable requests for extensions may be considered. 
• Grant recipients will be required to document expenses for grant-funded projects in the final report, so keep all receipts.
• An on-site tour of selected grant sites occurs annually. Organizations will be notified if their project is selected for the annual tour.
• Matching funds are not required; however, applicants that show project funding commitments from other sources or their own funds are more competitive.
• Projects may be partially funded.

Application Information

The Historic Preservation Grant application is only available online. Applications must be completed by 5 p.m. CST on March 31, 2023.

1. Start Your Application

To start an online application, create an account with an email address in our online grant portal.

Start an application.

2. Resume Your Application

Access a saved or submitted application.

3. Review Your Application

After submitting an application, you will receive an email confirming your submission. If you notice errors in your application, please contact Stephanie Lientz by email. 

4. Check Your Email

You will receive updates on your application via the email that you provide. Grant reviewers may also contact your email to request more information to assist with their review.

Project Budget Worksheet

Applicants must complete a Project Budget Worksheet to upload to their application. Applicants are encouraged to have the worksheet complete prior to beginning the application.

Project Budget Worksheet (PDF)

• Applicants will be notified of the Linn County Historic Preservation Commission’s recommendation following the Commission’s May review. These recommendations are subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors. Applicants who wish to appeal the HPC’s recommendation must send a written appeal by June 1, 2022.
• All appeals must describe the facts of the case, an argument in favor of the appeal, and the desired remedy to be based upon:
  • The decision violated state law or county ordinance; or,
  • The decision was influenced by a conflict of interest; or,
  • The decision was based upon unpublished criteria.
• Send appeals via email to Stephanie Lientz.
• Following the resolution of any appeals by the Linn County Board of Supervisors, the HPC will forward its recommendations to the Linn County Board of Supervisors for final award decisions.